Michael Ring
Ceist:99 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will introduce a package of measures to ensure that people here with new inventions are given every assistance. [12780/01]
Written Answers - Assistance for Inventors.
There already exists a range of measures under State auspices directed towards assisting inventors to develop their inventions to the stage where they can be brought to the marketplace.
Enterprise Ireland, in particular, where the patenting, technical and commercial prospects for inventions so justify, provides financial assistance towards the costs of patenting such inventions under its intellectual property assistance scheme. Enterprise Ireland also provides financial and advisory assistance towards the technical development or other aspects of commercialising inventions under some of its other programmes. Technical-advisory assistance is also available for inventors under various programmes operated by such State agencies as Shannon Development, Udarás na Gaeltachta and the county enterprise boards.